INDONESIA OUTLOOK

From the Jakarta Post S. Korea keen to sell nuclear technology to RI South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak made a special request to Indonesian Coordinating Economic Minister Hatta Rajasa to visit South Korea's nuclear facility in Busan, on the sidelines of the latter's work visit to South Korea, on Tuesday. “We were asked to undertake the visit,” Hatta said Tuesday in Busan, South Korea, as quoted by kompas.com. “We hadn’t planned to visit the nuclear facility at all,” he added. During the visit, Hatta was accompanied by other senior Indonesian officials including Industry Minister MS Hidayat, Investment Coordinating Board chief Gita Wirjawan, and National Economic Committee chairman Chairul Tanjung. Hatta said Lee had wanted to promote South Korea's nuclear processing technology, which he said could be applicable in Indonesia. For detail story, visit here

From Zawya.com QNB acquires Indonesia's Bank Kesawan QNB Group and Bank Kesawan signed a "Letter of Intent" in September 2010, making QNB Group the "Standby Buyer" for the rights issue which received regulatory approval in December 2010. Ali Shareef Al Emadi, QNB Group Chief Executive Officer, said this partnership is in line with the Bank's international growth strategy to expand its presence in strategic markets with significant potential. "QNB Group is a committed long term investor in Bank Kesawan and wishes through its investment to be a partner in the development of Indonesia's economy," he said. Erwin Aksa, President Director of Bosowa Corporation which is the partner shareholder of Bank Kesawan, said the alliance with QNB Group will have a positive impact on Bank Kesawan's overall business plans with the increase in share capital, enhancing the Bank's financial position and allowing for the expansion of business activities. The ...

From the Jakarta Post Indonesia, Finland sign agreement to promote renewable energy The Ambassador of Finland to Indonesia, Kai Sauer, said that the program, which is called the Energy and Environment Partnership (EEP), aimed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change by providing modern, accessible and reliable services in rural areas and industrial applications. “This program is a manifestation of our commitment to develop the two nations relations through concrete programs,” he told reporters at a press conference held after the agreement signing ceremony in Jakarta. He continued that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland has granted EUR 4 million (Rp 48 billion) to Indonesia to run the program for the period of 2011 to 2014. The funds would be used to sponsor feasibility studies, demonstrations and pilot projects. For detail story, visit here

From the Live Mint Tata Motors may set up Nano production facility in Indonesia Tata Motors Ltd might build a factory to produce its Nano small car in Indonesia, one of the fastest expanding markets in Asia. The firm is conducting a feasibility study to establish a facility in Jakarta, three people familiar with the company’s plan said on condition of anonymity. Should the plan come to fruition, it will help the company not only get a foothold in the large but untapped market of Indonesia, but also address the adjoining markets of Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. Robust economic growth, rising consumer confidence levels and affordable credit made 2010 a record year for all the four markets in South-East Asia. Sales of light vehicle expanded 36% to 2.23 million units compared with a year ago, according to a January report on the automotive market in the Asean region by JD Power and Associates, a forecast and research firm. “Indonesia is almost like Indian market,” said Abdul Maj...

From AME Info Shell, Aramco may build plant in Indonesia Saudi Aramco and Royal Dutch Shell and Indonesia's PT Pertamina may enter into a partnership to build a refinery in the south-east Asian nation, Bloomberg has reported. "The government is preparing a fiscal policy to help attract investors, including for the Aramco project," Indonesian industry minister Mohamad Hidayat said. Saudi Aramco is set to sign an agreement with Pertamina on the development of a $5bn refinery project with a capacity of 300,000 barrels a day. For other stories from the source, visit here

From the Wall Street Journal JAKARTA (Dow Jones)--PT Shell Indonesia, the local unit of Royal Dutch Shell PLC (RDSB.LN), plans to invest $90 million-$100 million to build a lubricant plant, a senior executive said Friday. "We aim to start construction this year, and if no hurdles are in our way, complete in 2013-2014," Chief Executive Darwin Silalahi told reporters after a meeting with government officials at the industry ministry. "The plant will have a capacity of 100,000 (metric) tons a year, and we also expect to export to China, India, and Vietnam." Industry Minister M.S. Hidayat told reporters after the meeting that the ministry will propose that lubricant firms get the incentive of import duty exemption. For detail story, please visit here

From the Jakarta Post Anglo-Dutch Royal Dutch Shell announced Friday that the company would set up a US$100 million lubricant plant in the western part of Java with a total capacity of 100,000 tons per year. PT Shell Indonesia president director Darwin Silalahi said the plant would be the company’s production hub, not only to supply the Indonesian domestic market, but also the Asian regional market. “We’ve been discussing with the Industry Minister [M.S. Hidayat] about what incentives Shell can get to make the plant competitive for the export market,” he told reporters after meeting the minister in Jakarta. Darwin said that in addition to fulfilling domestic demand, lubricants from the planned plant would be exported to emerging Asian economies such as China, India and Vietnam, whose demand has been rising over the past several years. The plant would start operations in late 2013 or early 2014, Darwin said. He estimated that the plant’s construction process would absorb around 700 work...

From the Jakarta Globe Indonesia on Saturday congratulated Egypt on its democratic change and expressed hope that the Middle East country would continue to play an important role in efforts to achieve peace between Israel and the Palestinians. "The government of Indonesia congratulates the whole Egyptian nation for its ability to overcome the current challenges," Foreign Minister Marty Natalegawa said in a statement. Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak stepped down on Friday in the wake of weeks of unprecedented street protests against his three- decade rule. "Indonesia believes that Egypt will still play a major role in the region, including in pushing the Middle East process," Natalegawa said. "Indonesia will stand by Egypt in its transition to democracy and its efforts to achieve lasting peace in the Middle East." For detail story, visit here

In Indonesia, a Model for Egypt's Transition From the Wall Street Journal WASHINGTON—The Obama administration, seeking to help stabilize Egypt following President Hosni Mubarak's resignation, is looking at the 1998 overthrow of Indonesian dictator Suharto as a model for a democratic transition in a Muslim-majority country, said senior U.S. officials. National Security Council officials in the past week have been discussing with foreign-policy experts similarities between Egypt's revolution and Indonesia's, which led over a decade to what is one of the developing world's most open political and economic systems, according to these officials. Key issues U.S. officials are tackling in Egypt, and which were prominent in Indonesia, are how to balance an expected rise in support for Islamists and the continued role of the military. White House officials have been reading studies comparing Egypt's branch of the Muslim Brotherhood, a global Islamist organization, and In...